Infant Formula

Question 1

Is breastfeeding best for a baby

Answer 1

• Yes it is but about 1 million infants in USA are given formula from birth and by 3 months many who were breast fed now get formula routinely

Question 2

As pharmacists what involvement do we have in formula

Answer 2

• You just sell it and they just wanna know where it is
  
  • All of the formulas are very similar
  • Chance of making a mistake are very slim

Question 3

What is infant formula like

Answer 3

• Like ensure for kids
  
  • Start with cows milk and add/ take stuff out
  • Biggest is fats, carbs then proteins
  • Vitamins and minerals come after

Question 4

Standard vs iron fortified

Answer 4

• Regular is iron fortified, and lower in iron is not
  
  • They all have iron but prefer to not give lower iron versions but not our jobs

Question 5

How to deal with lactose in formula

Answer 5

• There is milk sugar in breast milk and formula
  
  • Congenital lactase deficiency is exceedingly rare in infants but rather milk protein allergy is more common
  • The vegetarian options are lactose free

Question 6

Lactase activity after 2

Answer 6

• In your gut is genetically programmed to decline after age 2 and symptoms tend to appear by age 20

Question 7

When to add cows milk in the infants diet

Answer 7

• Introduce whole milk about year 1 and stay with it until year two (can switch to lower fat after)
  
  • You need the fats for development, don’t be scared of them
    
    • More is not good but you need enough

Question 8

Formula and thickener

Answer 8

• Meant to be thicker in stomach so maybe a less chance of spitting up
  
  • Add extra rice starch
  • Same consistency going down but when in stomach acid thickens it a tiny bit

Question 9

Why do babies spit up

Answer 9

• Swallowing air during feedings
  
  • Overeating
  • Sensitivity to allergens transferred through breast milk (less common)

Question 10

Can pharmacists tell the difference between normal spitup and gerd

Answer 10

• Hard to know and not a pharmacists that decides this

Question 11

Benefit of formula and omega fatty acids

Answer 11

• People will believe that your baby will be smarter from adding essential fatty acids (omega 3, omega 6)
  - More expensive
  - Hard to take a chance to not get it

Question 12

Benefit of formula and probiotics

Answer 12

• People get lots of probiotics just from taking foods
  - Unsure if it helps

Question 13

Different types of formula formulation

Answer 13

a) Ready to feed: most expensive
b) Concentrate: have to add equal parts of water
- If your water supply is limited then hard to use with concentrate and powder
c) Powder